Voluntary sector organisations have submitted funding bids to the Department of Health, setting out how they could help their communities by improving care for thousands of vulnerable people.

The funding that The Lesbian & Gay Foundation will receive will enable the further development and preparation for a national rollout of ‘Pride in Practice’ which has been successfully piloted in partnership with NHS North West.

Pride in Practice is a benchmarking tool that identifies GP surgeries that are fully committed to assuring that their lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) patients are treated fairly, and able to discuss their issues openly with their GP or healthcare provider.

The process involves surgeries undergoing a simple, self-assessment process, prior to verification by the Lesbian & Gay Foundation. The assessment helps to identify gaps that need to be addressed, in order to ensure that surgeries are fully accessible to their LGB patients and their needs.

The funds will also provide an online portal where LGB people can make recommendations of practices or GPs who are LGB-friendly. Over time, this will enable the LGB community to support others to access appropriate care.

In tandem, a community education campaign will be delivered. LGB communities will be supported to make them more aware of their legal rights, and more confident and able to challenge any negative experiences that they may encounter in accessing healthcare.

To celebrate this grant funding, Care Services Minister Paul Burstow held a round table with members of voluntary sector organisations including the Royal National Institute of Blind People, Cool2Care and the Council for Disabled Children.

Paul Burstow said : “This new funding will improve the lives of thousands of people across England, helping them to lead healthier and more independent lives. It is crucial that we continue to champion our voluntary organisations, because their expertise allows them to design and develop innovative solutions to the big challenges we face in health, public health and social care.

“These exciting projects are more than worthy of our support and I am delighted that the money will be spent on providing individuals and local communities with the tools to tackle health and wellbeing.”